U.S. patent number 10,209,722 [Application Number 15/477,091] was granted by the patent office on 2019-02-19 for mixed water faucet with fixed main and detachable auxiliary spouts.
The grantee listed for this patent is Hamat Sanitary Fittings and Casting Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shlomo Pirutin.
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United States Patent |
10,209,722 |
Pirutin |
February 19, 2019 |
Mixed water faucet with fixed main and detachable auxiliary
spouts
Abstract
A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work
surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary
housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body
mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main spout
and an auxiliary spout extending from the housing; a main water
supply hose for conveying water to the main spout and an auxiliary
water supply hose for conveying water to the auxiliary spout, the
main water supply hose and the auxiliary water supply hose
extending through the housing; and a diverter for selectably
directing a supply of water to the main spout and the auxiliary
spout.
Inventors: |
Pirutin; Shlomo (Ashdod,
IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hamat Sanitary Fittings and Casting Ltd. |
Ashdod |
N/A |
IL |
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Family
ID: |
58461250 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/477,091 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170285670 A1 |
Oct 5, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62317645 |
Apr 4, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
11/00 (20130101); E03C 1/0404 (20130101); G05D
23/1306 (20130101); E03C 1/04 (20130101); F16K
27/045 (20130101); Y10T 137/9464 (20150401); E03C
2201/30 (20130101); E03C 2001/0415 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G05D
23/13 (20060101); E03C 1/04 (20060101); F16K
11/00 (20060101); F16K 27/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;137/801 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3434735 |
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Apr 1986 |
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DE |
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102014001606 |
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Aug 2015 |
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DE |
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2009/076981 |
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Jun 2009 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Arundale; R. K.
Assistant Examiner: Barry; Daphne M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: JMB Davis Ben-David
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Benefit is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/317,645, filed Apr. 4,2016, the contents of which are
incorporated by referenced herein in their entirety.
Claims
I claim:
1. A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work
surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes: a
stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a
faucet body mounted onto said housing, rotatable relative thereto;
a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from said housing; a
main water supply hose for conveying water to said main spout and
an auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to said
auxiliary spout, said main water supply hose and said auxiliary
water supply hose extending through said housing; and a diverter
for selectably directing a supply of water to said main spout and
said auxiliary spout, wherein said auxiliary spout is removably
mounted onto a rear portion of said faucet body for use at a
location relatively remote from said main spout, and said auxiliary
water supply hose is adapted for extension through said housing
when said auxiliary spout is removed from said faucet body, and for
retraction through said housing when re-mounted onto said faucet
body, wherein said housing has a base and an upper portion, said
base having formed therein a shaped opening, and said upper portion
having formed therein a main opening aligned with said shaped
opening, and an auxiliary opening communicating with said shaped
opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from a main
axis, wherein a rotation of said main spout about a rotation axis
extending through said faucet body causes a partial twisting of
said main water supply hose and said auxiliary water supply hose
with respect to each other, and wherein said shaped opening is
formed to allow relative lateral movement of said main water supply
hose and said auxiliary water supply hose with respect to each
other, thereby to allow extension and retraction of said auxiliary
spout and said auxiliary hose.
2. A water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said main water
supply hose enters said housing through said shaped opening, and
exits said housing though said main opening, and wherein said
auxiliary water supply hose enters said housing through said shaped
opening adjacent to said main water supply hose, and exits said
housing through said auxiliary opening, the alignment of said
auxiliary water supply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis
on entry into said shaped opening to a second auxiliary axis on
exit from said auxiliary opening, wherein said first and second
auxiliary axes are eccentric with respect to said rotation
axis.
3. A mixer water faucet according to claim 2, wherein said main
water supply host is aligned along said main axis which is
eccentric with respect to said rotation axis.
4. A mixer water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said
auxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is
located and mounted behind said faucet body and is held or mounted
generally-vertically therebehind; and wherein said pull-up water
spraying element is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled
upwardly, and not by being pulled sideways and/or downwardly.
5. A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work
surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes: a
stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a
faucet body mounted onto said housing, rotatable relative thereto;
a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from said housing; a
main water supply hose for conveying water to said main spout and
an auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to said
auxiliary spout, said main water supply hose and said auxiliary
water supply hose extending through said housing; and a diverter
for selectably directing a supply of water to said main spout and
said auxiliary spout, wherein said housing has a base and an upper
portion, said base having formed therein a shaped opening, and said
upper portion having formed therein a main opening aligned with
said shaped opening, and an auxiliary opening communicating with
said shaped opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from
a main axis, wherein a rotation of said main spout about a rotation
axis extending through said faucet body causes a partial twisting
of said main water supply hose and said auxiliary water supply hose
with respect to each other, and wherein said shaped opening is
formed to allow relative lateral movement of said main water supply
hose and said auxiliary water supply hose with respect to each
other, thereby to allow extension and retraction of said auxiliary
spout and said auxiliary hose.
6. A mixer water faucet according to claim 5, wherein said
auxiliary spout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of said
faucet body for use at a location relatively remote from said main
spout, and said auxiliary water supply hose is adapted for
extension through said housing when said auxiliary spout is removed
from said faucet body, and for retraction through said housing when
re-mounted onto said faucet body.
7. A water faucet according to claim 5, wherein said main water
supply hose enters said housing through said shaped opening, and
exits said housing though said main opening, and wherein said
auxiliary water supply hose enters said housing through said shaped
opening adjacent to said main water supply hose, and exits said
housing through said auxiliary opening, the alignment of said
auxiliary water supply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis
on entry into said shaped opening to a second auxiliary axis on
exit from said auxiliary opening, wherein said first and second
auxiliary axes are eccentric with respect to said rotation
axis.
8. A mixer water faucet according to claim 7, wherein said main
water supply hose is aligned along said main axis which is
eccentric with respect to said rotation axis.
9. A mixer water faucet according to claim 5, wherein said
auxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is
located and mounted behind said faucet body and is held or mounted
generally-vertically therebehind; and wherein said pull-up water
spraying element is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled
upwardly, and not by being pulled sideways and/or downwardly.
10. A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work
surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes: a
stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a
faucet body mounted onto said housing, rotatable relative thereto;
a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from said housing; a
main water supply hose for conveying water to said main spout and
an auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to said
auxiliary spout, said main water supply hose and said auxiliary
water supply hose extending through said housing; and a diverter
for selectably directing a supply of water to said main spout and
said auxiliary spout, wherein said housing has a base and an upper
portion, said base having formed therein a shaped opening, and said
upper portion having formed therein a main opening aligned with
said shaped opening, and an auxiliary opening communicating with
said shaped opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from
a main axis, wherein a rotation of said main spout about the
rotation axis extending through said faucet body causes a partial
twisting of said main water supply hose and said auxiliary water
supply hose with respect to each other.
11. A mixer water faucet according to claim 10, wherein said
auxiliary spout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of said
faucet body for use at a location relatively remote from said main
spout, and said auxiliary water supply hose is adapted for
extension through said housing when said auxiliary spout is removed
from said faucet body, and for retraction through said housing when
re-mounted onto said faucet body.
12. A water faucet according to claim 10, wherein said main water
supply hose enters said housing through said shaped opening, and
exits said housing though said main opening, and wherein said
auxiliary water supply hose enters said housing through said shaped
opening adjacent to said main water supply hose, and exits said
housing through said auxiliary opening, the alignment of said
auxiliary water supply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis
on entry into said shaped opening to a second auxiliary axis on
exit from said auxiliary opening, wherein said first and second
auxiliary axes are eccentric with respect to said rotation
axis.
13. A mixer water faucet according to claim 12, wherein said main
water supply hose is aligned along said main axis which is
eccentric with respect to said rotation axis.
14. A mixer water faucet according to claim 10, wherein said
auxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is
located and mounted behind said faucet body and is held or mounted
generally-vertically therebehind; and wherein said pull-up water
spraying element is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled
upwardly, and not by being pulled sideways and/or downwardly.
15. A mixer water faucet according to claim 10, wherein said shaped
opening is formed to allow relative lateral movement of said main
water supply hose and said auxiliary water supply hose with respect
to each other, thereby to allow extension and retraction of said
auxiliary spout and said auxiliary hose.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of water faucets and
water taps.
BACKGROUND
A water faucet or water tap is a device able to control the flow of
water. A water faucet may allow a user to commence and to stop the
flow of water from a plumbing system or from a water-delivery
system. A water faucet may further allow a user to modify the
pressure of water flow, or the volume of water that flows per time
unit.
Some water faucets may be implemented as a "mixer tap", for
example, featuring a single handle enabling the user to mix hot
water supply with cold water supply, to achieve a desired
temperature.
Also known are mixer faucets having a nozzle incorporating a spray
function in the spout are also known, the nozzle often being
attached by a hose which is long enough to permit it to be pulled
out.
The size of the hole or bore required to accommodate a mixer faucet
is usually about 35 mm, while the outside dimensions of the faucet
body are typically 35-50 mm. While the sizes of hose used depends
on the desired water flow exiting the faucet, its external diameter
will normally be no less than 8 mm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a
work surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes a
stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a
faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a
main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from the housing; a
main water supply hose for conveying water to the main spout and an
auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to the auxiliary
spout, the main water supply hose and the auxiliary water supply
hose extending through the housing; and a diverter for selectably
directing a supply of water to the main spout and the auxiliary
spout.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the
auxiliary spout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of the
faucet body for use at a location relatively remote from the main
spout, and the auxiliary water supply hose is adapted for extension
through the housing when the auxiliary spout is removed from the
faucet body, and for retraction through the housing when re-mounted
onto the faucet body.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the main
spout is rotatable about a rotation axis extending through the
faucet body.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the
housing has a base and an upper portion, the base having formed
therein a shaped opening, and the upper portion having formed
therein a main opening aligned with the shaped opening, and an
auxiliary opening communicating with the shaped opening aligned
along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from the main axis, wherein the
main water supply hose enters the housing through the shaped
opening, and exits the housing though the main opening, and wherein
the auxiliary water supply hose enters the housing through the
shaped opening adjacent to the main water supply hose, and exits
the housing through the auxiliary opening, the alignment of the
auxiliary water supply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis
on entry into the shaped opening to a second auxiliary axis on exit
from auxiliary opening, wherein the first and second auxiliary axes
are eccentric with respect to the rotation axis.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the main
water supply house is aligned along a main axis which is eccentric
with respect to the rotation axis.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the
housing has a base and an upper portion, the base having formed
therein a shaped opening, and the upper portion having formed
therein a main opening aligned with the shaped opening, and an
auxiliary opening communicating with the shaped opening aligned
along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from the main axis, wherein a
rotation of the main spout about a rotation axis causes a partial
twisting of the main water supply hose and the auxiliary water
supply hose with respect to each other, and wherein the shaped
opening is formed to allow relative lateral movement of the main
water supply hose and the auxiliary water supply hose with respect
to each other, thereby to allow extension and retraction of the
auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the
auxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is
located and mounted behind the faucet body and is held or mounted
generally-vertically therebehind; and wherein the pull-up water
spraying element is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled
upwardly, and not by being pulled sideways and/or downwardly.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The term "faucet" or "water faucet" as used herein may include, for
example, any suitable faucet or tap or valve that controls the flow
of water or other liquids; including, but not limited to, a water
faucet intended for installation and utilization in a home, a
household, a dwelling, an office, a business venue, a factory, a
kitchen, a bathroom, a restroom, indoors, outdoors, and/or other
suitable places or venues; such faucet having or utilizing or being
controlled by a single handle, or two handles, or a knob, or two
knobs, or by other user interface elements or controlling elements;
and including, but not limited to, a pull-out faucet, a pull-down
faucet, a single-handle faucet, a double-handle faucet, a bar
faucet, a wall mount faucet, a pot filler faucet, a touch-less
faucet or hands-free faucet (e.g., activated by sensing a motion of
a hand or a gesture of the user), and/or other suitable types of
faucets or taps.
Applicants have realized that in conventional systems, a main water
faucet is sometimes accompanied by a separate side-spray or
side-spray element, which is separate and independent from the main
water faucet. Applicants have realized that this configuration may
suffer from one or more problems or disadvantages, for example: (a)
the need to drill two separate holes in a surface or platform
(e.g., granite, marble, artificial marble, or other kitchen
platform or surface); (b) increased form-factor, and reduced
utilization of the kitchen platform due to the fact that two
separate units occupy space, side-by-side or next to each other;
(c) the need to maintain, clean and/or repair two separate units;
(d) reduced convenience for some users, who need to reach sideways
to grasp the side-spray unit, while the user is standing in
proximity to (or in front of) the main water faucet.
Applicants have realized that it may be beneficial or advantageous
to provide an integral or integrated device, which comprises in the
same integrated unit, referred to as water faucet 10 below: (i) a
main water faucet, referred to hereinbelow as main spout 20,
including a single handle that controls the flow of both cold water
and hot water; (ii) a spraying unit or a spout unit or spout,
referred to hereinbelow as auxiliary spout 26, which is located
and/or stored and/or mounted generally behind the main water faucet
(e.g., immediately adjacent to the main water faucet; or
immediately on its right side or its left side, immediately
adjacent to the main water faucet), and utilizes the same
single-hole drilled in the kitchen platform (e.g., granite, marble,
artificial marble); and (iii) a diverter unit, responsive to manual
actuation or manual selection of the user via a diverter switch or
diverter lever or diverter button or diverter slider or other
diversion interface, to divert or to direct the flow of water, in a
selective manner, to either the main water faucet or the spraying
unit, and vice versa.
In some embodiments, the combined faucet 10 receives incoming water
from a cold water pipe (or tube), referred to as below as cold
water hose 32, and from a hot water pipe (or tube), referred to
below as hot water hose 30; and the diverter mechanism or diverter
unit, based on the manual position or actuation thereof, diverts or
directs the mixed water (or the single stream of water) to either
the spraying unit 26 or the main faucet 20.
In some embodiments, the spraying or auxiliary 26 is connected to
an elongated and flexible pipe or tube, which allows the user to
pull-out or to pull-up the spraying unit 26, and to distance it
from the water faucet or main spout 20, in order to reach locations
or areas that the main water faucet 20 (which lets the water flow
downwardly and generally vertically) cannot reach; and which also
enables the user to utilize the spraying unit 26 for a variety of
tasks, for example, cleaning the sink or the sink area or the
platform next to the faucet, filling-up water into a coffee-maker
machine or a soda-maker machine or into a pot or a pan or a cooking
appliance, or the like.
Optionally, the auxiliary spout or spraying-unit 26 may have an
actuation button 24, such that only when the user presses the
button does water flow out of the auxiliary spout or spraying-unit
26; and such that water does not flow out of the spout or
spraying-unit once the button is depressed or un-pressed or is not
touched (or not pressed) any more by the user. Optionally, the
spout or spraying-unit may comprise one or more buttons or
user-interface elements (e.g., a lever, a slider, a rotating
selector, or the like), which may switch or modify the operational
characteristics of the spout or the spraying unit; for example,
between a regular flow, a "spray" type flow or scattered-flow, an
"aerated" flow, a "pause"/"un-pause" button. In some embodiments,
the auxiliary spout 26 may have a button to trigger or to cause
diversion of the water flow, from flowing exclusively through the
main faucet 20, to be diverted into and to flow outwardly
exclusively through the spouting unit or spraying unit. For
example, if the lever or handle of the main faucet is pulled or
moved by a user to enable flow of water, then as a "default route",
the water flows out through the main faucet and not to the spraying
unit; and only if or when the user presses the actuation button in
the spraying unit, the diversion mechanism is triggered to operate
and the flow of water is diverted to flow out through the
pulled-out spraying unit, instead of through the main faucet.
In some embodiments, the main water faucet may comprise, on its
rear side 28 (e.g., the side that is located away from the user, or
is located between the faucet and a wall that typically exists
behind the faucet, a particular cavity or channel or crater or rib,
that enables the secure placement or mounting or holding-in-place
of the spout unit or spraying unit, when not in use or after its
utilization is over. In some embodiments, the pulled-out flexible
pipe or flexible tube of the spout or spraying-unit, may be
inserted back downwardly and may be stored within or under the
kitchen platform or under the sink, hidden away from the user when
not in use.
In some embodiments, the water-outlet of the auxiliary spout 26,
when the spout is mounted or held-in-place behind the main faucet
20, may face backwardly or rearward, away from the user, or towards
a back-wall that may be located behind the water faucet. In other
embodiments, the water-outlet of the auxiliary spout 26, when
mounted or held-in-place behind the main faucet 20, may face the
front, towards the user, or towards the rear-side of the main
faucet 20 which "hides" or blocks that water outlet from the
user.
In some embodiments, the pull-up auxiliary spout or spraying unit
26 of the present invention, is not merely a pull-out unit that is
pulled out (or away) from the main faucet 20, in a downward
direction or in a horizontal direction in order to be released from
the grip of (or from the holding by) the main water faucet. Rather,
the pull-up auxiliary spout or spraying unit 26 of the present
invention is a pull-up unit that can be pulled up, or upwardly, or
only upwardly, or exclusively upwardly, in order to be released
from the grip of (or from the holding by) the main faucet 20; and
only after such upward-only pull-up for the safe release of the
spout from the rear-side of the water faucet that holds it, only
then may the auxiliary spout unit 26 be moved around the area
flexibly while being connected to the water system via the flexible
pipe or flexible tube thereof.
In some embodiments, optionally, the entirety of the auxiliary
spout or spraying-unit 26 may be a generally flat unit, or a
rectangular unit, or a box or cuboid or rectangular cuboid unit;
and may not comprise any L-shaped ending or edge or protrusion or
spout-area; thereby keeping the form-factor of the unit small,
and/or thereby allowing smoother holding by the user which may hold
the unit similar to holding a flat handle and without an L-shaped
ending or protrusion, and/or thereby enabling the auxiliary spout
or spraying-unit 26 to spray water in an un-obstructed manner from
a flat or generally-flat water outlet of the auxiliary spout 26 and
without being restricted or obstructed by a protrusion or an
L-shaped ending of the spout. In other embodiments, the spraying
unit or the auxiliary spout element 26 may be generally flat but
may also have a slightly protruding water-outlet at or near its
distal end (e.g., away from the base of the faucet), through which
the water flows out or is sprayed out or is spouted out.
In some embodiments, the auxiliary spout element or the spraying
element 26 may be structured to exactly complement a
generally-vertical crater or insert or crater than is indented into
the rear-side of the main water faucet 20; such that the integrated
device 10, namely the main water faucet 20 in the front and the
held-in-place auxiliary spout unit 26 in the back, together form a
perfect or generally-perfect cylinder or rectangular cuboid or
other shape which is generally straight and lacks protrusions or
craters.
In some embodiments, the water faucet system 10 of the present
invention and/or its units or elements, may be utilized in (or may
be implemented as): a pull-up water faucet system, a single-state
or dual-state pull-out water faucet system, and/or other suitable
types of water faucet systems.
In some embodiments, optionally, a user may permanently or
temporarily remove or cancel the operation of the auxiliary
spraying unit 26; for example, by adding or inserting or appending
or inserting a suitable seal or blocking-element or cover or
water-blocker or similar element, at or near the externally-facing
water-outlet of the spraying unit and/or at the base-area of the
spraying unit and/or within the spraying unit and/or at (or near)
the connection between the spraying unit and the main water faucet
and/or at (or near) the diverting mechanism that diverts water from
the main water faucet to the pull-up spraying unit. In some
embodiments, optionally, the entire pull-up spraying unit may be
removed from the water faucet system (e.g., permanently or
temporarily); and/or may be replaced in a modular manner with other
suitable water-outlet units, for example, thereby converting the
water faucet system into a fixed-outlet system or a
non-moving-outlet system, or thereby converting the water faucet
system into a pull-out system, or the like.
Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein
with reference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or
may be utilized in combination with, one or more other functions,
operations, components and/or features described herein with
reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated
from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with
the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a pictorial representation of a water faucet constructed
in accordance with an embodiment the present invention, as viewed
from above a work surface in which the faucet is installed, wherein
the auxiliary spout is in a retracted position;
FIG. 1B is similar to FIG. 1A, but wherein the auxiliary spout is
in an extended position;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the faucet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the faucet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded, schematic diagram showing the flow and
distribution of water supplied to the faucet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side-sectional, partially exploded view of a faucet
body 16 and main spout 20 constructed in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of main spout when rotated from a
first position to a second position;
FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the faucet body of the invention,
showing a shaped opening for the hoses through which water is
provided to the main spout and the auxiliary spout, the eccentric
positioning of both the main spout supply hose and the auxiliary
spout supply hose relative to the axis of rotation of the main
faucet body, and their movement consequent to the rotation of the
main spout as shown in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the shaped opening and its position
relative to the axis of rotation of the main faucet body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is seen a water faucet,
referenced generally 10, generally as described above, installed in
a single hole 12, formed in a work surface or platform 14.
Typically, but way of non-limiting example only, hole 12 has a
diameter which is typically 35 mm as known in the art. Faucet 10
includes a faucet body 16 which may have an outside diameter of
35-50 mm as known in the art, and is supported on platform 14 via a
housing 18 and shank 29. Body 16 is rotatable relative to housing
18 which has a fixed position relative to platform 14, and both are
held in position via a suitable system of fasteners as illustrated
and as generally known in the art. Faucet body 16 has a main spout
20 to which water is supplied as shown and described herein, inter
alia, in conjunction with FIG. 4, by suitable operation of selector
handle 5 and mode selector switch 24, mounted onto auxiliary spout
26. Operation of handle 5 and mode selector switch are generally as
known in the art and are thus not described herein in detail,
Auxiliary spout 26 is extendably mounted onto a rearward facing
portion 28 (FIG. 1B) of faucet body 16. As described above, mode
selector switch 24 may be any suitable switch, lever, button or
slider to operate diverter 40 (seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), also as
known in the art.
Referring now also to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7A and 7B, the incorporation
of main spout 20 and auxiliary spout 26 into a single, integrated
faucet, requires a novel, bundled water flow circuitry into a
single cluster of five hoses within shank 29 (FIG. 4) as described
below in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 5.
As seen in the exploded view of FIG. 4, a pair of hot and cold
water hoses, respectively referenced 30 and 32, are connected to
hot and cold water supplies, respectively referenced 34 and 36. A
water mixer cartridge 38 (FIG. 4), as known in the art, is located
within housing 18 in operative association with selector handle 5.
Hot and cold water is supplied to cartridge 38 via hot and cold
water hoses 30 and 32, and a mixed water supply is delivered from
cartridge 38 to external diverter 40, via intermediate hose 42.
Water reaching diverter 40 may then be supplied either to main
spout 20 or to auxiliary spout 26, via main spout hose 44 or
auxiliary spout hose 46, respectively, depending on the operation
of the mode selector switch 24.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 7A, the respective positions of
the five hoses are shown, wherein hot water hose 30, cold water
hose 32 and intermediate hose 42 are seen to extend through
suitable openings formed in the base 48 of housing 18. Main spout
hose 44 and auxiliary spout hose 46 extend up into main body 16
through the housing 18, as described below.
A well-known problem of extendable hoses of spray faucets is that
the extendable hose, which is required to move freely through the
main faucet body, frequently becomes stuck, even though it is the
only hose which extends through the faucet housing. For this
reason, it is known to make use of a counterweight to assist in
pulling the hose back through the main body of the faucet when
seeking to retract the spray head.
Due to the desire to limit the overall external diameter of the
faucet housing to those generally accepted within the field,
typically, 35-50 mm, as well as the requirement to provide a flow
of water by both the main spout and the auxiliary spout, thus
limiting the minimum external diameter of their associated hoses to
no less than 8 mm, a specially formed shaped opening 50 is formed
in base 48 to accommodate the two hoses. It will be appreciated
that main spout hose 44 is static and auxiliary spout hose 46 is
arranged for extension and retraction.
The main spout hose 44 is positioned along a main axis 102, which
is parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation 103 of the main
body 16 and main faucet 20, by a distance or eccentricity denoted
as `e1` (FIG. 5). Furthermore, the auxiliary spout hose 46, extends
through housing 18 along a first auxiliary axis 104 which is
parallel to but spaced from the rotation axis 103 by a distance or
eccentricity denoted as `e2`.
As seen in FIG. 5, the auxiliary spout hose 46 extends through an
auxiliary opening 52 formed in an upward facing base portion 56
connecting faucet body 16 to housing 18, thereafter to connect to
the auxiliary spout 26. Auxiliary opening 52 defines a second
auxiliary axis 106 along which the auxiliary spout hose 46 connects
to the auxiliary spout 26. Second auxiliary axis 106 is parallel to
but spaced from the axis of rotation 103 by a distance or
eccentricity denoted as `e3`.
In order to facilitate extension of the auxiliary spout 26,
auxiliary spout hose 46 is provided with an additional length of
hose which is adapted to hang down beneath the faucet and work
surface 14 when auxiliary spout 26 is in an at rest, retracted
position. When auxiliary spout 26 is extended from the main body
16, as seen in FIG. 1B, all or some of the additional length of
hose is pulled through shaped opening 50 and auxiliary opening 52,
as required.
When main spout 20 is at an initial "zero" position relative to the
faucet body 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as shown schematically
as position "0" in FIG. 6, auxiliary spout hose 46 is retracted
substantially along axes 104 and 106, being accommodated by a
U-shaped depression portion 54 (FIG. 7B) of shaped opening 50, seen
in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
However, when main spout 20 is rotated to the position indicated as
"I", for example, thus rotating faucet body 16 relative to housing
18, this has the effect of applying a rotational force to both main
spout hose 44 and auxiliary spout hose 46, pulling them to one side
or another, as shown by arrows 58 and 60 in FIG. 7A, depending on
the direction in which main spout 20 is rotated. The extent of the
pulling on each of the hoses is a function of the eccentricities
e1, e2 and e3, and of the angle of rotation of main spout 20.
Shaped opening is thus formed with additional end depressions 62
and 64, to accommodate the relative twisting motion of auxiliary
spout hose 46 relative to main spout hose 44, while still allowing
sufficient freedom of movement therebetween when auxiliary spout
hose 46 is extended or retracted when extending or retracting
auxiliary spout 26.
While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated,
and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes,
and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,
the claims are intended to cover all such modifications,
substitutions, changes, and equivalents.
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